Dabco® PM301 Surfactant and Polycat® 204 Catalyst; New Additives That Enable the use of Hydrofluoroolefin Low GWP Blowing Agents in Cosed Cell SPF

摘要

Closed cell Polyurethane spray foam (SPF) is one of the best choices for insulating commercial and residential structures, such as walls, roofing, and other energy critical applications due to its superior insulation properties. Closed cell SPF obtains its thermal resistance (R-value) through the incorporation of a low thermally conductive gas such as a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) blowing agent. Recently, as part of the President's Climate Action Plan, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has restricted the usage of HFCs as auxiliary blowing agents in all foam production including SPF, and mandated the phase-out of these technologies which will lead to the use of newer, low global warming potential (GWP) blowing agents for polyurethane foam production. Conversion of HFC based SPF systems to the new hydrofluoroolefin low GWP blowing agents present a number of new technical challenges including overall system shelf-life stability, blowing agent solubility and overall processibility. This poster will present evaluation data from two new products developed by Air Products specifically targeted at enabling the use of 4th generation, low GWP blowing agent technologies in closed cell SPF. 1. Polycat® 204 catalyst is a non-emissive balanced amine catalyst designed to be used with the low GWP, HFO blowing agents in closed cell spray systems. Polycat 204 provides excellent system stability and overall catalytic activity 2. Dabco® PM 301 surfactant is an organic based additive for HFC and HFO blown closed-cell SPF, that improves blowing agent solubility, reduces the resin side viscosity and suppresses the resin side- vapor pressure, all of which can lead to more efficient blowing agent utilization.